Michigan, NC State Women's Basketball Teams Set for March Madness Showdown

2-seed Michigan and 6-seed NC State to face off in second round of NCAA Tournament

Mar. 22, 2026 at 9:04am

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The Michigan women's basketball team, seeded 2nd in the Fort Worth 3 region, will host 6-seed NC State on Sunday, March 22 in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament. Both teams are fresh off opening round wins, with Michigan defeating 15-seed Holy Cross 83-48 and NC State topping Tennessee 76-61.

Why it matters

This matchup features two programs with strong tournament pedigrees - Michigan has made 13 NCAA Tournament appearances, while NC State is making its 30th tournament showing. The winner will advance to the Sweet Sixteen in Fort Worth, Texas next weekend.

The details

Michigan relied on its standout sophomore guard trio of Mila Holloway, Syla Swords, and Olivia Olson to overwhelm Holy Cross in the opening round. NC State, meanwhile, jumped out to a big early lead against Tennessee before holding off a second-half comeback attempt. The Wolfpack are led by first-team All-ACC selections Khamil Pierre and Zoe Brooks, who provide a potent scoring duo. NC State's size with the 6'6" Tilda Trygger could pose problems for Michigan.

  • The second-round matchup is scheduled for Sunday, March 22 at Crisler Center in Ann Arbor.
  • Michigan defeated Holy Cross 83-48 in the opening round on March 20.
  • NC State defeated Tennessee 76-61 in the opening round on March 20.

The players

Olivia Olson

A sophomore guard for Michigan, Olson was a first-team All-Big Ten selection and is averaging 19.1 points and 6.2 rebounds per game.

Khamil Pierre

A junior forward for NC State, Pierre earned first-team All-ACC honors and is averaging a double-double with 16.8 points and 12 rebounds per game.

Zoe Brooks

A sophomore guard for NC State, Brooks was also a first-team All-ACC selection and is scoring 16 points per contest.

Kim Barnes Arico

The head coach of the Michigan women's basketball team, Barnes Arico has led the Wolverines to a 25-6 record and their 13th NCAA Tournament appearance in her tenure.

Wes Moore

The head coach of the NC State women's basketball team, Moore has guided the Wolfpack to a 20-10 record and their 30th NCAA Tournament appearance.

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What they’re saying

“We must be ready for the challenge that NC State presents. They have a very talented team and we know we'll need to bring our best effort to advance.”

— Kim Barnes Arico, Head Coach, Michigan Women's Basketball

“Our team is excited for the opportunity to play against a great program like Michigan. We know we'll have to match their intensity and execution if we want to move on.”

— Wes Moore, Head Coach, NC State Women's Basketball

What’s next

The winner of the Michigan-NC State matchup will advance to the Sweet Sixteen in Fort Worth, Texas, next weekend.

The takeaway

This second-round clash between two highly-ranked women's basketball programs promises to be an exciting and hard-fought battle, with the victor earning a spot in the Sweet Sixteen of the 2026 NCAA Tournament.